Bowling ball grip fitting device



Nov. 10, 1964 M. M. COHAN BOWLING BALL. GRIP FITTING DEVICE mmvron. Marvin/210011010, Deceased BY m'Hildw 00mm, Execwl'riw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 156,048 BOWLING BALL Gldli FlTTiNG DEVKCE Marvin M. Cohan, deceased, late of Canton, Ohio, by gilda Cohan, executrix, 2535 22nd St. NW., Canton,

Filed June 27, 1961, Ser. No. 120,093 9 (Claims. ('31. 33-174) The invention relates to a device for measuring a bowlers grip or span, and more particularly to a device of the general size and shape of a bowling ball for accurately measuring a persons grip or span to determine the proper size and relative locations of the thumb and finger holes in a bowling ball.

As is well known, a bowling ball is provided with holes into which the thumb and middle and ring fingers of the hand are inserted for grasping the ball and swinging it to roll it into the alley.

For the purpose of accuracy in bowling, and also for the comfort and convenience of the bowler, these thumb and finger holes should be of proper size to accommodate the thumb and middle and ring fingers of the bowlers hand and should be so located relative to each other that they will properly suit the individual bowlers grip.

The term grip commonly designates the proper span or distance between the thumb and finger holes, measured over the circumference of the ball. For this reason, it is customary for the average bowler to have his bowling ball made to his order.

Permissible weights of bowling balls may be anywhere between 10 and 16 pounds, and the bowler chooses a ball of a weight best suited to his purpose within this range. Also, the bowler has the thumb and finger openings bored in his bowling ball of proper size and relative spacing to best suit his grip.

Because bowling balls are comparatively expensive, it is important that the pu-rchasers grip be accurately determined. In view of the above conditions, it is desirable that a bowling ball grip fitting device he so constructed that it will not only accurately determine the proper size and relative spacing of the thumb and finger holes, but that the same be of the general size and shape of a bowling ball, and of the desired weight for the individual bowler, so as to enable him to grasp and swing the device so as to get the feel of the ball.

Because of the large variations in the size of human hands, and diameters of the thumb and fingers, in order to satisfy all sizes of hands, the diameters of the thumb holes may vary from about 2;," to 1%,"; the diameter of the finger holes may vary from A3" to 1 and the span between the thumb and middle finger may vary from 2 /2" to more than 5".

It is also found that, in the average human hand, the diameter of the ring finger is slightly less than that of the middle finger. Also the ring finger is further from the thumb than the middle finger. Thus the span between the thumb hole and ring finger hole should be somewhat greater than the span between the thumb hole and the middle finger hole. Also, it is known that these proportions vary between different individuals.

It will thus be evident that there are many possible combinations of relative size and spacing of thumb and finger holes, making it important that the proper combination of relative size and spacing of the holes be accurately determined for each individual case.

It is known that various devices have been proposed for measuring bowlers grips, but none of the devices so far produced are entirely satisfactory. Some of these devices are objectionable in that they merely measure the bowlers span but do not permit him to grasp the ball with his thumb and finger located in properly spaced holes.

Others are objectionable because, while measuring the ice span, they do not provide for measurement of the proper size of the thumb and finger openings. Still other prior art devices, while affording some degree of measurement of the size of the openings and the bowlers span, are eX- pensive and complicated in construction and do not produce accurate measurements.

Patent No. 2,719,360 granted to Marvin M. Cohan, deceased, on October 4, 1955, overcomes many of the above objections. However, said patent, like all of the other prior art devices, does not provide any means for varying the relative locations of the ring finger and middle finger holes relative to the thumb hole, to suit the individual conditions.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a bowling ball grip fitting device which overcomes the disadvantages of such prior devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will efficiently and accurately measure each individual bowlers grip.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the relative locations of both the middle finger hole and the ring finger hole, relative to the thumb hole, may be accurately determined.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a grip fitting device in the form of a regulation size bowling ball, having a thumb hole therein and a series of finger hole sockets located in a progressively increasing spiral path surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole, and a plurality of cylindrical finger hole inserts, each having two finger holes therein, the inserts being selectively rotatably mounted in any desired finger hole socket.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a grip fitting device including a plurality of cylindrical weights selectively insertable into any desired finger hole sockets.

Still another object is to provide a grip fitting device of the character referred to, having detachable insert filler blocks for insertion into finger hole sockets on each side of the finger hole insert.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide such a grip fitting device in which the finger hole sockets may be formed in a spiral groove in the device.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved bowling ball grip fitting device in the manner hereinafter described in detail and set forth in the following description.

In general terms, the invention may be stated as com prising a regulation size bowling ball of the minimum weight ordinarily used in bowling, having a thumb hole socket therein adapted to selectively receive any one of a number of thumb hole inserts having thumb holes of varying diameters therein.

A progressively increasing spiral groove is provided in the ball, surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole socket, opposite side edges of the groove comprising a series of arcuate portions located in opposed concentric pairs and forming finger hole insert sockets for selectively receiving any one of a plurality of cylindrical finger hole inserts.

Each of the finger hole inserts has two finger holes therein and is adapted to be rotatably located within any desired socket, so that the locations of the two finger holes relative to the thumb hole may be adjusted to suit any individual case. 7

A plurality of cylindrical weights are adapted to be selectively inserted into any desired finger hole sockets for varying the weight of the ball between the minimum and maximum weights permitted.

Resilient filler blocks are adapted to be inserted into the sockets at either side of the finger hole insert to pro- 3 vide means for resting the first and little fingers of the hand thereon and preventing them from dropping into the groove.

A span director is provided upon the surface of the ball, adjacent to the thumb hole, for measuring the bowlers span in increments of Vs", and the various finger hole sockets are correspondingly marked so that the desired finger hole insert may be inserted into the proper socket and rotatably adjusted therein to accommodate the bowlers grip.

Having thus briefly described the invention, reference is now made to the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the improved bowling ball grip fitting device, looking toward one thumb hole insert and showing the spiral groove eccentrically surrounding the same for accommodating spans between 2 /2" and 3%", showing a finger hole insert located in one of the sockets of the groove, with filler blocks located on each side thereof, and showing a weight located in one of the finger hole sockets of the groove;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the diametrically opposite side of the block, showing the other thumb hole socket with the thumb hole insert removed therefrom, and showing the other spiral groove eccentrically surrounding said other thumb hole socket for measuring spans of 3%" to /3";

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the grip fitting device, showing portions of both of the spiral grooves;

FIG. 4 is a detached, perspective view of the thumb hole inserts;

FIG. 5 is a detached, perspective view of one of the finger hole inserts;

FIG. 6 is a detached, perspective of one of the weights;

FIG. 7 is a detached, perspective view of one of the flexible filler blocks; and

FIG. 8 is a detached, perspective view of a crescentshaped filler block for use at one end of the spiral groove.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, the grip fitting device is indicated generally at 1, comprising a bowling ball of standard size such as used in bowling.

As above pointed out, the invention consists pirmarily in providing a thumb hole in the ball surrounded by a series of finger hole sockets located in a progressively increasing spiral path eccentric to the thumb hole. These sockets are illustrated as located in a spiral groove, opposite edges of which comprise a series of arcuate portions forming the sockets.

Owing to the number of such finger hole sockets required for measuring spans of from 2 /2" to 5" or greater, it is not possible to provide the same in a single spiral groove, as the groove would be of greater length than the circumference of the ball.

For this reason, two thumb hole insert sockets, indicated at 2 and 3, are provided in the ball, at diametrically opposite points, and a separate spiral groove, having finger hole sockets therein, surrounds each of the two thumb hole insert sockets.

A spiral groove indicated generally at 4 surrounds the thumb hole insert socket 2, the edges of the groove comprising a series of arcuate portions 5, opposed pairs of which form sockets for receiving the finger hole inserts, as will be later described, for fitting spans of from 2 /2" to 3%".

A similar spiral groove indicated generally at 6 surrounds the thumb hole insert socket 3, the edges of the groove comprising a series of arcuate portions 7, opposite pairs of which provide a plurality of sockets for selectively receiving the finger hole inserts for fitting spans of from 3 /8 to 5%".

A plurality of thumb hole inserts are provided, each having a concentric thumb hole. In order to accommodate the thumbs of all hands, from the smallest womans hand to the largest mans hand, a set of thumb hole inserts are provided, which for the purpose of illustration, may have thumb holes therein as follows:

3/; II 2%2I! 1:/1GI! 1%2!! II 2%2II ie"- %4" %z" %i" %i"- All of these thumb hole inserts are of the same construction, with the except of the diameter of thumb hole therein. For the purpose of illustration, in FIG. 4 is shown a thumb hole insert having a /8" thumb hole therein. This thumb hole insert is indicated generally at 8, and the same thumb hole insert is shown mounted in the socket 2 in FIG. 1.

This thumb hole insert is of cylindrical form, of a diameter to have a sliding fit within either of the sockets 2 or 3, and of such length that when it is inserted into the socket so that the inner end of the insert contacts the bottom wall 9 of the socket, the outer end 10 of the insert will be flush with the surface of the ball 1. The outer end 10 of the insert is preferably curved to conform to the contour of the ball.

A longitudinal groove 11 is formed in one side of the insert 3, to accommodate the stud 12 within the sockets 2 and 3. A radial line 13 is marked upon the outer end 10 of the insert to indicate the location of the longitudinal slot 11, and a similar radial line 14 is marked upon the exterior of the ball, adjacent to the socket, to indicate the location of the stud 12.

When the insert 8 is seated within the socket, the longitudinal groove 11 in the insert will have passed out of engagement with the stud 12, and the stud will be received in the annular groove 15 in the insert.

The insert 8 may then be rotated in the socket until the mark 13 thereon is moved away from the mark 14 on the ball, as shown in FIG. 1, at which time the stud 12 will be in contact with the annular shoulder 16 forming one side of the annular groove 15, thus detachably locking the insert within the socket.

Cylindrical finger hole inserts, as indicated generally at 17 and shown in detail in FIG. 5, are provided for selective insertion into the desired socket 5-5 or 77, in the spiral grooves 4 or 6 respectively. Each finger hole insert is adapted to have a sliding fit in any desired socket and to be rotatable therein to the proper adjusted position.

As best shown in FIG. 5, each finger hole insert 17 has a middle finger hole 13 and a ring finger hole 19 of slightly smaller diameter than the middle finger hole. It has been found that in the average human hand the middle finger is usually about larger in diameter than the ring finger.

It has also been found that the diameter of the middle finger usually comes within a range of 6" to 1. Thus, in order to accommodate hands of various sizes, a set of finger hole inserts is provided with finger hole sizes as follows:

It should be understood that the above sizes are illustrative as they will take care of substantially all sizes of human hands, but that for unusual cases, finger hole inserts with other sizes of finger holes may be provided.

In order to measure the spans between the thumb and the middle and ring fingers, when laid over the surface of the ball, a Span Director as indicated generally at 20, is provided upon the surface of the ball adjacent to one of the thumb hole sockets.

As shown in FIG. 1, this Span Director is located adjacent to the thumb hole socket 2, and comprises a line 21, radial to the socket 2, and having graduations 22 from 2 inches to about 5 /2 inches, and the outlines of the fingers are indicated at 23.

To measure the span, the proper thumb hole insert 8 is selected and placed in the socket 2. The customer then inserts his thumb into the thumb hole and lays his fingers over the surface of the ball in substantially the position of the finger outlines 23, and thus observes the position of the first joint of the middle finger relative to the graduations 22.

Assuming that the span between the thumb and middle finger is thus found to be 2%", the finger insert should be inserted in the socket marked M2%R3, as shown in FIG. 1. The finger hole insert 17 having the proper size holes 18 and 19 to fit the customers middle and ring fingers, is first selected.

Again assuming that the finger hole insert with Ms middle finger hole and ring finger hole is selected, this finger hole insert is placed in the socket having span marked MFA-R3, as shown in FIG. 1. If the customer is rightt-handed, the finger hole insert 17 is rotated in the socket so as to locate the mark 24 thereon adjacent to the right-hand markings indicated at 25 on the surface of the ball adjacent to this socket.

Such markings are provided adjacent to each socket 5-5 or 77, and are shown as comprising RH and graduations marked A, B, C, D around the edge of the socket. In most cases, when the mark 24 on the finger hole insert registers with the graduation A, the finger hole will, be properly positioned to accommodate the customers span or grip.

If adjustment is required, to fit any individual case, the finger hole insert 17 may be rotated within the socket to bring the mark 24 thereon into register with the graduations 3, C or D, as may be necessary.

In fitting the span of a left-handed person, the finger hole insert 17 is so positioned in the socket that the mark thereon indicated at 26 will be positioned adjacent to the left-hand graduations upon the ball as indicated at 27.

For the purpose of closing the groove on each side of the finger hole insert, circular filler blocks 28 may be inserted into sockets on opposite sides of the finger hole insert to support the first and little fingers of the hand and prevent them from dropping down into the groove.

These filler blocks are preferably formed of rubber or similar flexible material, and each may have a center hole 29 and radial slot 30 therein to permit their being easily inserted into or removed from the sockets. Additional apertures 31 may be provided in each filler block to provide additional flexibility.

In cases where the finger hole insert is located in the socket at either end of the groove, a crescent-shaped filler block, as indicated at 32 in FIG. 8, may be provided for filling the groove between the finger hole insert and the adjacent end of the groove.

The ball 1 is preferably of such weight that when a thumb hole insert and finger hole insert and filler blocks are located therein, it will weigh ten pounds, the minimum weight permitted. In order to make the ball of proper weight for the individual customer, a plurality of removable weights, as indicated generally at 33 and shown in FIG. 6, may be provided. These weights may be made in one pound and two pound weights, so that any combination thereof may be used to increase the weight of the ball, in increments of one pound, up to sixteen pounds, the maximum weight permitted.

These cylindrical weights are of such size and shape that they may be inserted into any of the sockets 5-5 or 7-7 in the grooves 4 and 6 respectively, which are not at the time occupied by the finger hole insert and filler blocks.

The customer may then grasp the ball with his thumb in the thumb hole and his middle and ring fingers in the finger holes 18 and 1? respectively, to get the feel of the ball.

From the above it will be seen that with this device the exact size and relative locations of the thumb and finger holes may be accurately determined, and the correct weight of ball for the individual customer may be determined.

To then produce the custom-made bowling ball, a ball of desired weight is selected, and the thumb and finger holes of proper size are bored therein, in the proper relative positions to accurately accommodate the bowlers span or grip.

It will also be seen that the improved bowling ball fitting device provides for an efficient and accurate measurement of the bowlers grip from the smallest womans hand to the largest mans hand, as well as the accurate measurement of the thumb hole and finger holes.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a ball having a thumb hole therein and a progressively increasing spiral groove therein surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole, each edge of said groove comprising a series of arcuate portions, opposed pairs of arcuate portions in the two edges of the groove being concentric, and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having two spaced finger holes of diiferent diameter therein, each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted between any desired opposed concentric pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each finger hole insert.

2. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a ball having a thumb hole therein and a progressively increasing spiral groove therein surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole, each edge of said groove comprising a series of arcuate portions, opposed pairs of arcuate portions in the two edges of the groove being concentric, and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having a middle finger hole and a smaller diameter ring finger hole therein, each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted between any desired opposed concentric pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each finger hole insert.

3. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a ball having a thumb hole therein and a progressively increasing spiral groove therein surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole, each edge of said groove comprising a series of arcuate portions, opposed pairs of arcuate portions in the two edges of the groove being concentric,

and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having two spaced finger holes of different diameters therein, each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted between any desired opposed concentric pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, and a removable cylindrical weight selectively longitudinally slidably mounted between any other desired pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each finger hole insert.

4. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a ball having a thumb hole therein and a progressively increasing spiral groove therein surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole, each edge of said groove comprising a series of arcuate portions, opposed pairs of arcuate portions in the two edges of the groove being concentric, and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having two spaced finger holes of different diameters therein, each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted between any desired opposed concentric pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, and a plurality of removable cylindrical weights selectively slidably mounted between any other desired pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each finger hole insert.

5. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a ball having a socket therein, a removable thumb hole insert located in said socket and having a concentric thumb hole therein, and a progressively increasing spiral groove therein surrounding and eccentric to the socket, each edge of said groove comprising a series of arcuate portions, opposed pairs of arcuate portions in the two edges of the groove being concentric, and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having two spaced finger holes of different diameters therein, each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted between any desired opposed concentric pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each finger hole insert.

6. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a ball having a socket therein, a removable thumb hole insert located in said socket and having a concentric thumb hole therein, means detachably retaining said thumb hole insert in said socket, and a progressively increasing spiral groove therein surrounding and eccentric to the socket, each edge of said groove comprising a series of arcuate portions, opposed pairs of arcuate portions in the two edges of the groove being concentric, and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having two spaced finger holes of different diameters therein,

8 each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted between any desired opposed concentric pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each linger hole insert.

7. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a ball having a thumb hole therein and a progressively increasing spiral groove therein surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole, each edge of said groove comprising a series of arcuate portions, opposed pairs of arcuate portions in the two edges of the groove being concentric, and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having two spaced finger holes of different diameters therein, each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted between any desired opposed concentric pairs of arcuate portions in said groove, and removable circular filler blocks located in the groove on opposite sides of the finger hole inserts, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each finger hole insert.

8. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a ball having a thumb hole therein, and a series of finger hole sockets located in a progressively increasing spiral path surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole, and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having two spaced finger holes of difierent diameters therein, each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted in any desired finger hole socket, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each finger hole insert.

9. A bowlers grip measuring device comprising a hall having a thumb hole therein, and a series of finger hole sockets located in a progressively increasing spiral path surrounding and eccentric to the thumb hole, and a plurality of removable cylindrical finger hole inserts each having two spaced finger holes of different diameters therein, each of said finger hole inserts being selectively longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted in any desired finger hole socket, and a removable cylindrical weight selectively slidably mounted in any other desired finger hole socket, said arcuate portions of the edges of the groove being of considerably less length than the diameter of each finger hole insert.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,566,511 Bassi Sept. 4, 1951 2,719,360 Cohan Oct. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 320,203 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1929 

1. A BOWLER''S GRIP MEASURING DEVICE COMPRISING A BALL HAVING A THUMB HOLE THEREIN AND A PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING SPIRAL GROOVE THEREIN SURROUNDING AND ECCENTRIC TO THE THUMB HOLE, EACH EDGE OF SAID GROOVE COMPRISING A SERIES OF ARCUATE PORTIONS, OPPOSED PAIRS OF ARCUATE PORTIONS IN THE TWO EDGES OF THE GROOVE BEING CONCENTRIC, AND A PLURALITY OF REMOVABLE CYLINDRICAL FINGER HOLE INSERTS EACH HAVING TWO SPACED FINGER HOLES OF DIFFERENT DIAMETER THEREIN, EACH OF SAID FINGER HOLE INSERTS BEING SELECTIVELY LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN ANY DESIRED OPPOSED CONCENTRIC PAIRS OF ARCUATE PORTIONS IN SAID GROOVE, SAID ARCUATE PORTIONS OF THE EDGES OF THE GROOVE BEING OF CONSIDERABLY LESS LENGTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF EACH FINGER HOLE INSERT. 